Unleashing Readers

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 5/22/17

May 22, 2017 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme started by Sheila at Book Journeys and now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover the next “must-read” book!

Kellee and Jen, of Teach Mentor Texts, decided to give It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus. If you read and review books in children’s literature – picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, young adult novels, anything in the world of kidlit – join us! We love this meme and think you will, too.

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Last Week’s Posts

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday: Books We Love to Read to our Sons

Wednesday: The Case of the Stinky Stench by Josh Funk

Thursday: Review and Giveaway!: Caring for Your Lion by Tammi Sauer
Giveaway open until Wednesday!

Friday: FRAMED!: A T.O.A.S.T. Mystery by James Ponti

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

This week was super busy, but I still had time to devour Russian Roulette by Anthony Horowitz. This is the 10th Alex Rider book; however, it is actually a prequel mixed with a different point of view of #1. And WHOA! What a great read! I’ve loved this series since I picked up the first book and none of them have let me down! I realized the other day when I was talking to a couple of teachers that Stormbreaker came out 13 years ago, so some newer teachers don’t know about this series, so if you don’t know about it–PICK IT UP! It is in my top ten favorite series ever!

Ricki

My son and I read Real Friends by Shannon Hale in one sitting. This may be weird to some of you (because he is 3-years-old), but he really enjoyed it. We talked about the themes on his level. Shannon Hale’s memoir is going to be an important book for many readers. It delves into issues of popularity, in-crowds, bullying, and kindness. I wish I had this book when I was in 5th grade because I had a tough time with a few students in my class. This book would have provided me solace. This is a great addition to classroom libraries.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

I am almost done with The Hate U Give! I have been listening to it every chance I get when I’m alone!

I have some reading choices to make! One is on my #mustread list, one is on the SSYRA list, and one I’m reviewing in June.

Ricki

I am halfway through the audio of The Great American Whatever by Tim Federle. It is a great, great book.

I just started Scythe by Neal Shusterman. So far, it is very intriguing. I am curious where it goes.

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday

Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Favorite “Summer” Books

Wednesday: Behind the Legend Series: The Loch Ness Monster & Big Foot by Erin Peabody

Thursday: Guest Review: Grandma in Blue with Red Hat by Scott Menchin

Friday: 5 Worlds: The Sand Warrior by Mark Siegel and Alexis Siegel

So, what are you reading?

Link up below and go check out what everyone else is reading. Please support other bloggers by viewing and commenting on at least 3 other blogs. If you tweet about your Monday post, tag the tweet with #IMWAYR!

and

Framed by James Ponti

May 19, 2017 by Kellee

Framed: A T.O.A.S.T Mystery
Author: James Ponti
Published August 26th, 2016 by Aladdin

Summary: Get to know the only kid on the FBI Director’s speed dial and several international criminals’ most wanted lists all because of his Theory of All Small Things in this hilarious start to a brand-new middle grade mystery series.

So you’re only halfway through your homework and the Director of the FBI keeps texting you for help…What do you do? Save your grade? Or save the country?

If you’re Florian Bates, you figure out a way to do both.

Florian is twelve years old and has just moved to Washington. He’s learning his way around using TOAST, which stands for the Theory of All Small Things. It’s a technique he invented to solve life’s little mysteries such as: where to sit on the on the first day of school, or which Chinese restaurant has the best eggrolls.

But when he teaches it to his new friend Margaret, they uncover a mystery that isn’t little. In fact, it’s HUGE, and it involves the National Gallery, the FBI, and a notorious crime syndicate known as EEL.

Can Florian decipher the clues and finish his homework in time to help the FBI solve the case?

Review: I love mysteries; specifically mysteries with kids who solve things that adults couldn’t figure out. They are so much fun to follow along and try to figure out with the characters. Florian is one of the best kid detectives that I’ve read. His use of TOAST, the Theory of All Small Things, is so admirable and is something that kids could definitely learn from since they so often ignore the small things and focus on the obvious. I could definitely see games and activities being created for classrooms that use the TOAST theory. Or kids will play the type of games that Florian and Margaret played as Florian was training Margaret in TOAST: making inferences about the people around them, in stories, or with mysteries. I could see pairing TOAST with books like You Be The Jury.

I also really enjoyed the mystery that James Ponti set up for us. I could predict part of it but other parts came as a total surprise to me. I am always in total awe of an author’s ability to craft such a complicated mystery and how it all comes together. I also loved that the story was mutli-faceted and will teach the readers as well as entertain them.

And I am so happy to say that Framed is on our 2017-2018 Sunshine State Young Reader Award list for both 3rd-5th grade AND 6th-8th grade! Congratulations, James!

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: In addition to the mystery games that could be played using TOAST, reading aloud Framed, and having Framed available to students to read, there are lots of opportunities in the book to discuss art and art history. Since both of Florian’s parents work in the museum business and the mystery of the book focuses on an art heist, there multiple times where art comes into the story including discussion of impressionism (specifically Monet, Renoir, and Degas) and even stories of Van Gogh and Gaugin.

Discussion Questions: Did you figure out the mystery before it was revealed? Was there any foreshadowing now that you know the reveal?; What did you learn about art while reading Framed?; How could you use TOAST in your life?

Flagged Passages: “‘You want me to teach you TOAST?’

‘Toast?’ she asked. ‘You’ve tasted my cookies, which are…epic. Don’t you think I know how to make toast?’

‘Not that toast,’ I said. ‘TOAST stands for The Theory of All Small Things. That’s how I read people and places. The idea is that if you add up a bunch of little details, it reveals the larger truth.’

‘And where did you learn this theory? Philosophy class? Spy school?’

‘I…invented it…I guess.’

This made her laugh. ‘You invented TOAST?’

‘It’s based on some things I learned from my parents,’ I said. ‘But I pull it all together and came up with the name. So yes, I invented it.’

‘You said your parents work at museums, right?’

‘My father designs security systems, and one day he explained that the key to his job is finding the tiny flaw or inconsistency that the bad guys can take advantage of.’

‘Like the saying that ‘a chain is only as strong as its weakest link’?’

‘Exactly,’ I said. ‘And my mother’s an art conservator. She restores old paintings and says the best way to understand a painting is by finding the smallest details that tells you the whole story, like the smile on the Mona Lisa.’

‘And this led to TOAST?’

I nodded. ‘Even though their jobs are incredibly different, they both rely on the idea that tiny things can be hugely important,’ I explained. ‘Once I even used TOAST to help my dad catch a criminal.'” (Approximate Loc 221 in the ebook)

Read This If You Loved: Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett, Heist Society by Ally Carter, Shakespeare’s Secret by Elise Broach, Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz, Loot by Jude Watson, Nickel Bay Nick by Dean Pitchford, Some Kind of Happiness by Claire Legrand, Great Greene Heist by Varian Johnson, Wig in the Window by Kristen Kittscher, A Girl Named Digit by Annabel Monaghan,

Recommended For:

**Thank you to the author for providing copies for review!**

Review and Giveaway: Caring for Your Lion by Tammi Sauer

May 18, 2017 by Ricki

Caring for Your Lion
Author: Tammi Sauer
Illustrator: Troy Cummings
Anticipated Published: May 2, 2017 by Sterling

Goodreads Summary: What happens when you expect an itty-bitty kitty . . . but get a lion instead?
It’s kitten delivery day, but—SURPRISE. Congratulations on your new LION! We know you ordered a kitten, but we ran out of those. Fortunately, the big cat comes with instructions—like, try very hard NOT to look like a zebra. Or a gazelle. And give your lion PLENTY of space to play. But soon the feathers and fur start flying and everything’s in chaos. Is there any way a lion could actually be a child’s purr-fect pet?

Ricki’s Review: This text will be a fantastic read-aloud for elementary school classrooms. It is a how-to book that will make kids roll with laughter. There is much to be taught from this text, so teachers will love teaching it as much as students will love listening to it. I enjoyed how straight-forward the text was. The pages include step-by-step instructions that are very clear and direct. The pictures show the consequences (e.g. the lion will eat you!). This is a perfect mentor text for a variety of teaching tools (see below) and a great addition to classrooms.

Kellee’s Review: Kids are going to love this step-by-step introduction into how to care for a pet lion. (Though I predict there are going to be some “No, you cannot have a lion as a pet.” conversations because of this book! The lion is just that adorable!) I loved how the book was a combination of a how-to guide and a narrative of the boy’s experience with his lion–what a unique concept! It is going to be such a fun book to read aloud with time to examine each page. And like Sauer’s Alien books, it really makes you think about expectations, prejudice, and first impressions vs. reality.

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Teachers might use this book to teach sequence and how-to directions. They could also use it with students to discuss how caring for a lion would compare and contrast to caring for a more typical animal like a cat, dog, or fish. Students could then write their own how-to guides about caring for an exotic animal.

Discussion Questions: What is difficult about caring for a lion? What is important to remember?; When should you use a feather? What does the feather do?

Flagged Passage: “Step 3: Try very hard NOT to look like a zebra. Or a gazelle. Or a bunny. (See Diagram A).”

Read This If You Love: Share, Big Bear, Share by Maureen Wright; Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He’s the Favorite by Stacy McAnulty; Dear Dragon by Josh Funk; How to Track a Truck by Jason Carter Eaton; How This Book Was Made by Mac Barnett

Recommended For:

Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

and

**Thank you to Lauren at Sterling for providing copies for review!**

Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast in The Case of the Stinky Stench by Josh Funk

May 17, 2017 by Kellee

The Case of the Stinky Stench
Author: Josh Funk
Illustrator: Brendan Kearney
Published May 2nd, 2017 by Sterling Kids

Summary: “Uncle,” Crossaint said, “the fridge is in trouble!
A mystery stench turned a whole shelf to rubble!
I’m the last hope or the fridge will be lost!
Help me or else we’ll be cooked, served, and sauced.”

There’s a stinky stench in the fridge—and our favorite foodie friends must solve a smelly mystery! Sir French Toast’s nephew, Inspector Croissant, begs him and Lady Pancake for help in finding the source of the foul odor. Could it be the devious Baron Von Waffle? A fetid fish lurking in the bottom of Corn Chowder Lake? Featuring the same delectable wordplay and delicious art that won critical raves for Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast—there’s even an actual red herring—his fun follow-up is an absolutely tasty treat for kids!

About the Author: Josh Funk is from MA where he spends his days writing computer language and his free time writing picture book rhymes. His first published picture book was Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast (Sterling) and he is the author of Pirasaurs (Scholastic), Dear Dragon (Viking), and the upcoming Albie Newton (Sterling, 2018).

About the Illustrator: Brendan Kearney is an illustrator from the UK. While studying architecture at university, he realized he didn’t like rulers. He then discovered that it wasn’t essential to use a ruler when illustrating children’s books. Now he specializes in illustrating children’s books, bringing his own chaotic style and ideas to any project. He is also the illustrator of the first Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast and Bertie Wings It (both Sterling).

Kellee’s Review: I love that Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast are friends again and working together with Inspector Croissant to solve the mystery of the stinky stench. Their story promotes prediction, friendship, and problem solving in a fun refrigerator adventure! In a way that only Josh Funk can, he rhymes his way through the story without even one rhythm hiccup. The story, filled with humor, throwbacks to the first book, and a sweet ending, is just as funny as the first one with jokes for kids and adults alike (watch for the Red Herring and Spuddy Holly).

Ricki’s Review: If you follow this blog, you know that we absolutely love Josh Funk’s work. His books are smart, cleverly crafted, and engaging. They have a special quality to them in that they appeal to both adults and kids. My son is allowed to pick his bedtime books, and my inner voice squeals whenever he picks one of Josh’s books because I know that the story will be fun to read aloud. We got this book a week ago, and we’ve read it over a dozen times (by my son’s choice!). Who doesn’t love a book about a stinky stench?! There is so much to talk about, and so many great foods and vocabulary words to discuss. The words dance across the pages—and this makes for a beautiful read-aloud. I am always wary of sequels and companion books, but Josh nailed it. This is a great adventure that can work well with the first book and also stand alone. Teachers, if you don’t have this book or Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast, I recommend them highly for your classrooms. Parents, this one is a no-brainer. I will cross my fingers that a third Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast book is in the works!

Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Because of Josh Funk’s amazing ability to have perfect rhyming throughout the book, The Case of the Stinky Stench and the first Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast book are perfect at looking at rhyming and rhythm. Students can find all the rhyming words and discuss how they know the words rhyme and think of other words that rhyme with the words they found. Also, while reading, to discuss rhythm, students can clap along with the words to hear the rhythm that Josh Funk has created. Alternatively, students might design their own Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast pages to display around the classroom.

Activity Kit:

Can also be found on Sterling Publishing’s Stinky Stench website: https://www.sterlingpublishing.com/9781454919605

Book Trailer:

Read This If You Loved: Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast by Josh Funk, The Cookie Fiasco by Dan Santat, Max the Brave by Ed Vere, Giraffes Ruin Everything by Heidi Schulz

Recommended For:

and

**Thank you to Sterling Kids for providing a copy for review!!**

Top Ten Tuesday: Books We Love to Read to Our Sons

May 16, 2017 by Kellee

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. The feature was created because The Broke and Bookish are particularly fond of lists (as are we!). Each week a new Top Ten list topic is given and bloggers can participate.

Today’s Topic: Ten Books We Love to Read to Our Sons

In honor of Mother’s Day!

Ricki

These are the books my son picks over and over, and I love to read them! I could make a list of a thousand books, but these, in particular, are favorites for specific reasons.

1. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Have I mentioned that I threw my son a Goodnight Moon party for his first birthday?

2. Bear Snores On by Clement Hurd

I think this may be my favorite children’s book. I love the way it flows when I read it. My husband and I both have it memorized, and we have recited it in the car when my son isn’t feeling well.

3. Journey by Aaron Becker

I like to change the story a little bit every time I read this book. Wordless books are awesome.

4. Press Here by Hervé Tullet

My oldest has a lot of energy, and this gets him moving! We also own the Press Here board game, which is incredibly fun to play together.

5. I’ll Love You Forever by Robert Musch

I know some people find this book to be creepy, but I love it. I love to rock my boys as I read it to them.

Kellee

1. The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and THE BIG HUNGRY BEAR by Don and Audrey Wood

This was my brother’s favorite book, my husband’s favorite book, and is my mom’s favorite book to read aloud, and Trent loves it being read to him. How could I not love spreading the Big Hungry Bear read aloud love?!

2. Don’t Push the Button! by Bill Cotter

I love Press Here, but Larry in Don’t Push The Button! is so easy to love!

3. Race Car Count by Rebecca Kai Dotlich

I love the rhyming in this book, and it can be used to talk about colors or numbers–perfect!

4. Pigeon books by Mo Willems

I do one voice, and it works perfectly for the whiny Pigeon in Willems’s books.

5. Books that have songs that go with them mostly by Raffi and Sandra Boynton

I love singing books to Trent, and Boynton and Raffi have the best, in our opinion.

Which books do you love to read to kids?

and

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? #IMWAYR 5/15/17

May 15, 2017 by Kellee

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

We encourage everyone who participates to support the blogging community by visiting at least three of the other book bloggers that link up and leave comments for them.

Last Week’s Posts

**Click on any picture/link to view the post**

Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday: Our Reading Wishlist

Wednesday: Teaching Guide for Alamo All-Stars by Nathan Hale

Thursday: Guest Review: The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm

Friday: Someone Else’s Summer by Rachel Bateman

Sunday: Author Guest Post!: “Bridging the Gap Between Middle Grade and Young Adult” by Janet McLaughlin, Author of Haunted Echo and Fireworks

Last Week’s Journeys

Kellee

First, I read a title off of my #mustreadin2017 list that is my media specialist’s and fellow reading teacher’s favorite book of all time: Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer. It was so brilliantly crafted and is a fascinating look at the teenage mind, love, guilt, depression/mental illness, friendship, and literature, and I am so glad that I read it (FINALLY, as Jessica Moore would say).

I also was so happy to reread Wig in the Window by Kristen Kittscher in preparation for our Skype visit with Kristen on Friday. I love her Young and Yang mysteries!!!!

Ricki

Thanks to everyone for the syllabus suggestions for my Adolescents’ Literature course next semester. I welcome any other suggestions of texts if anyone has any! Crystal, your suggestions were incredibly helpful!

This week, I spent a lot of time perusing potential textbooks for my Methods course. I have texts that I love, but I want to see if there are any texts that might be even better. In the meantime, I also devoured a few picture books.

We’re All Wonders by R. J. Palacio is a picture book version (but slightly different) from Wonder. I am a huge fan of Wonder, so I absolutely loved this book. This is a great book to teach kids about the differences between people and how they can #choosekind.

If I Had a Little Dream by Nina Laden is a charming picture book written through a child’s eyes. The verse is beautiful, and it reminds us to appreciate the world around us. If you like the cover, you’ll love the illustrations. I found them to be captivating.

I liked Dragons Love Tacos 2 by Adam Rubin, but I’ll admit that I liked the first book a bit more. My son found this one to be very confusing with the time travel, and I am not sure he understood it when I was explaining it to him. This one seems to be written more for the adults and older kids.

My three-year-old LOVES Batman. He thinks he is Batman. When I asked him what he did at school, he tells me he “Saved the Day!” So he loved this book, Bedtime for Batman by Michael Dahl. It tells the story of a boy who does all of the things that Batman does.

This Week’s Expeditions

Kellee

I started The Hate U Give. Have you read this yet? If not, start it. Now. I wish I could sit in my car and just listen to it—brilliant.

I also finally picked up the prequel of the Alex Rider series. I read the whole series and love the stories, but for whatever reason I never read Yassen’s story. With Stormbreaker being read in one of my book clubs (lit circles), it has reignited my interest!

Behind the Legend: The Loch Ness Monster by Erin Peabody is so fascinating! I look forward to sharing it and its companion about Bigfoot soon.

Ricki

I started listening to The Great American Whatever by Tim Federle. It’s awesome so far.

I also started Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy in the bookstore today. I don’t own this one and have several books that I am reading at home that I love. So I am deciding if I should buy it. I did like the first two chapters a lot!

Upcoming Week’s Posts

top ten tuesday

Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday: Books We Love to Read to our Sons

Wednesday: The Case of the Stinky Stench by Josh Funk

Thursday: Caring for Your Lion by Tammi Sauer

Friday: FRAMED!: A T.O.A.S.T. Mystery by James Ponti

So, what are you reading?

and

Author Guest Post: “Bridging the Gap Between Middle Grade and Young Adult” by Janet McLaughlin, Author of Haunted Echo and Fireworks

May 14, 2017 by Ricki

“Bridging the Gap Between Middle Grade and Young Adult”

Making Friends With Billy Wong is a wonderful middle grade novel by Augusta Scattergood. The Mara Dyer novels by Michelle Hodkin make intriguing reading for young adults. But what about that elusive group in between—the kids who are too old for MG but not mature enough for YA?

There are different delineations for the age of a ‘tween. For clarity’s sake, I’m talking about the twelve to fifteen-year-old child. For me, this age group is the most intriguing. Tweens are both wise and naïve at the same time. They are testing their boundaries, but most still think twice before defying parents and teachers outright. They are discovering who they are; where they fit in the world; and the excitement, joy, and pain of innocent first love.

Unfortunately, books for this age group can be hard to find. It’s a tough sell to agents and publishers, because they don’t have a specific place for them in bookstores. There are no “‘Tween” shelves that I’m aware of in libraries. Many writers know this so they concentrate on the more accepted and defined groupings. But there are those of us whose hearts can’t be denied. We simply love writing for tweens.

I write for this age group because teachers and parents tell me they need “clean teen” for their kids to read. Because I know that the younger avid reader loves books that feature older version of themselves. Because parents of older reluctant readers tell me that, though their kids don’t like to read, they actually finish my books. Because an inner-city teacher whose class I once visited told me her kids reading scores went up on a state test and the only reason she could think of was my book combined with my visit made an impression on them.

These accounts are rewards in and of themselves. They keep me in my seat in front of my computer. They keep me writing.

So, where do you go to find books in this elusive category? Searching the Internet for lists of books for ‘tweens is helpful. However, as the category is defined by different parameters by different groups, you have to be discerning. Most lists include both MG and YA books. Goodreads has one of my favorites, a Listopia called, “Awesome Books for Tween Girls.” The books are read and reviewed by readers, many of whom are parents, which I like. I couldn’t find an “Awesome Books for Tween Boys.” Hopefully some day they’ll remedy that.

In the meantime, ‘tween readers may be interested in one of these highly regarded books: “The Absolute True Story of a Part-Time Indian,” an Amazon Bestseller by Sherman Alexie; “Criss Cross,” a Booklist Starred Review by Lynne Rae Perkins; and “Every Soul a Star” a School Library Journal Starred Review by Wendy Mass. There are many others available online and in bookstores. Search using “clean teen” or “books for ‘tweens,” and you’ll find them.

About the Author:

Janet McLaughlin has been involved in the communication field most of her adult life as a writer, editor and teacher. Her love of mysteries and the mystical are evident in her novels. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the Florida Writers Association. She lives in Florida with her husband, Tom, and along with her writing, enjoys playing tennis, walking, traveling, and meeting people.

About the Books:

Haunted Echo: Book One of the Soul Sight Mysteries

Sun, fun, and her toes in the sand. That’s what Zoey Christopher expects when she joins her best friend and fellow cheerleader Becca on an exotic Caribbean vacation. What she finds instead is a wannabe boyfriend, a voodoo doll, and Tempy – a tormented young ghost whose past is linked to the island grounds.Zoey has always seen visions of the future, but when she arrives at St. Anthony’s Island to vacation among the jet set, she has her first encounter with a bona fide ghost. Forced to uncover the secret behind the girl’s untimely death, Zoey quickly realizes that trying to solve the case will place her in mortal danger. Shaken and confused by a menacing threat and by her budding feelings for the too-cute, too-nice Chris, will Zoey find a way to survive this vacation and put Tempy to rest?

Fireworks: Book Two of the Soul Sight Mysteries (Coming Soon!)

Dreams aren’t real. Psychic teen Zoey Christopher knows the difference between dreams and visions better than anyone, but ever since she and her best friend returned from spring vacation, Zoey’s dreams have been warning her that Becca is in danger. But a dream isn’t a vision—right?Besides, Zoey has other things to worry about, like the new, cute boy in school. Dan obviously has something to hide, and he won’t leave Zoey alone—even when it causes major problems with Josh, Zoey’s boyfriend. Is it possible he knows her secret?Then, one night, Becca doesn’t answer any of Zoey’s texts or calls. She doesn’t answer the next morning either. When Zoey’s worst fears come true, her only choice is to turn to Dan, whom she discovers has a gift different from her own but just as powerful. Is it fate? Will using their gifts together help them save Becca, or will the darkness win?Discover what’s real and what’s just a dream in Fireworks, book two of the Soul Sight Mysteries!

Thank you to Denise for connecting us with Janet!!

and